A Squamish karate teacher who was teaching classes at Brennan Park Recreation Centre is facing criminal charges of sexual interference of a person under 16 and sexual assault, according to the North Vancouver court registry.
Shane Anthony Morrow, 40, also faces a third charge, but details cannot be reported due to a publication ban.
Morrow appeared in North Vancouver provincial court Dec. 27 and was released on bail Dec. 30. He is scheduled to appear in court on Jan. 13, according to the North Vancouver court registry.
Morrow was head instructor of Karate at Seiwa Kai Squamish Karate Association that operates out of Brennan Park Recreation Centre, according to the Seiwa website, which was taken down over the weekend.
Morrow’s membership in Karate BC has been suspended. The provincial organization announced Dec. 31 that its board of directors had unanimously decided to immediately suspend Morrow’s membership.
“I am personally horrified and very concerned for this club, its junior members and parents,” the organization’s president, Norma Foster, wrote in an email to The Squamish Chief.
“This suspension will continue until the court findings are made public. Subject to these findings, his membership in Karate BC could be permanently revoked,” read the statement from Foster.
Foster added that Karate BC screens club instructors with a criminal check “that must be completed by all instructors every three years.”
“However, our policies and procedures regarding instructors might require review and change. We will do everything in our power to minimize, and hopefully eradicate, the likelihood of abuses of authority,” said Foster.
The Seiwa Kai school contracts out its space at Brennan Park from the District of Squamish.
“We are certainly dismayed to hear about such allegations,” read a news release from the district. “We have strict protocols in place when contracting and hiring, including requiring criminal record checks.”
The release also states anyone concerned about the situation can contact the Squamish RCMP.
The RCMP said they would not be commenting on the case in order to protect the identity of the victim.
